From Tim Heider, Clackamas County Public Affairs Manager (503) 742-5911

06-16-16

Media and Interested Parties

Clackamas County recertifies May 17 election

Clackamas County elections officials announced Thursday that a box containing 341 ballots – including some from Multnomah and Washington counties – were discovered earlier this week during a final inventory of election equipment.

Officials have determined that the ballots were received before the 8 p.m. deadline for receiving ballots in the May 17 election and are valid.

The ballots were returned to the appropriate jurisdictions Thursday, and after consultation with the Secretary of State, all of the ballots were counted and the elections results have been amended to reflect the new vote totals.

The newly-counted ballots did not affect the outcome of any race or ballot measure.

“I am sorry that this error occurred. But once it was discovered, we acted immediately to notify the affected counties and worked through the Secretary of State to resolve this issue,” said Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall. “None of the election results were adversely affected and the election results in all three counties have been amended.”

Clackamas County election officials are investigating how the oversight occurred and indicated that it was likely that a box was placed in the wrong location.

New measures are being put into place to ensure there is clearer documentation of ballot inventories and that all ballot boxes are inventoried and counted as they are received.